Both of these teams suffered painful losses last week, but the Colts have more firepower to bounce back. Andrew Luck will come out with a mindset that this divisional showdown is a must-win, and he’s going to shred a Titans defense that couldn’t slow down the Jaguars’ pitiful offense. The Colts pick themselves up here and get back on track.
Winner: Colts
At this point in the season, the Bills have already lost any momentum they appeared to have through the first few games. E.J. Manuel couldn’t get the job done after returning from a knee injury, and the defense isn’t helping pick up the slack. The Jets, however, are playing well right now after a Week 10 bye and should watch Chris Ivory run all over the Buffalo defense.
Winner: Jets
Talk about a snoozer. A team coming off their first win of the year and another that simply can’t compete at this point in the season. While many would have thought the Falcons would walk away with this one at the beginning of the 2013 campaign, the Buccaneers could actually be victorious two times in a row. Look for Mike Glennon to get the job done against this weak Atlanta defense.
Winner: Buccaneers
As we’ve seen in the last few weeks, the Steelers have a horrendous offense that continues to get worse. Their defense isn’t any better, which is why the Lions are going to walk all over them on Sunday. With Matt Stafford slinging the pigskin, Calvin Johnson catching it with ease and Reggie Bush picking up yards on the ground, Pittsburgh doesn’t stand a chance of slowing down Detroit.
Winner: Lions
After a loss to the lowly Vikings in Week 10, the Redskins are looking like a lost team. In the other corner, the Eagles are enjoying the surprising play of Nick Foles and are a win away from taking the lead in the NFC East. Divisional showdowns are never easy, but the Eagles have the firepower to fend off a desperate D.C. team.
Winner: Eagles
Don’t let their first win of the season fool you. The Jaguars are still a long way from winning on a weekly basis. The Cardinals have a number of holes within their offense, but their defense is helping them to a surprising winning record through nine games. It’s not going to be pretty, but John Abraham and the Arizona defense will get them to 6-4.
Winner: Cardinals
At this point in the season, the Raiders are falling apart. Terrelle Pryor is making too many mistakes and the defense isn’t doing enough to keep them in games. The Texans, however, have been a play or two away from wins in the last couple of games. The third time is a charm for Case Keenum, who will walk away from this one with his first NFL win.
Winner: Texans
Even though their slide has stopped, the Ravens are still far from a contender at this point. Meanwhile, the Bears have been in just about every game this year while battling big injuries on both sides of the ball. The Ravens will play hard and keep it competitive, but the Bears’ passing game and the presence of Brandon Marshall will be too much to overcome.
Winner: Bears
Currently enjoying a two-game slide, the Bengals are paying the price for having an inconsistent Andy Dalton under center. Unfortunately, it won’t get any easier against the Browns, who have one of the best secondaries in the NFL. Jason Campbell might struggle to get the offense going, but Joe Haden and the Cleveland defense will help the Browns get back in the AFC North race.
Winner: Browns
The Dolphins are currently in a free fall while dealing with the Jonathan Martin – Richie Incognito fiasco, as evidenced by their pathetic performance against the Buccaneers on Monday night. While the Chargers haven’t had much more luck as of late, they shouldn’t struggle too much against Miami. Philip Rivers and Danny Woodhead will victimize the Dolphins’ defense for big yards.
Winner: Chargers
Even with an unproven quarterback in Scott Tolzien at the helm, the Packers still aren’t in too much trouble against the Giants. New York is currently enjoying a three-game winning streak, but still have a number of big holes and Eli Manning still isn’t playing well. The Packers are trying to maintain their standing near the top of the NFC North, and will do exactly that against the Giants.
Winner: Packers
Even after a surprising win last week, the Vikings don’t stand a chance. The Seahawks are coming off a dominant win in Week 10 and appear primed for a serious Super Bowl run. Meanwhile, Minnesota is limping their way through the season. Especially against a running game that features Marshawn Lynch, the Vikings can pen another tally in the loss column.
Winner: Seahawks
The 49ers’ five-game winning streak is now over. The Saints are just getting back on track. Last week, the Panthers exposed San Francisco’s susceptible offensive line and Colin Kaepernick’s instability in a crumbling pocket. If the Saints can find a way to put consistent pressure on the second-year passer while moving the ball on the ground with Pierre Thomas, they’ll come away with another win.
Winner: Saints
This is the game of the year (so far), and it’s going to be an exciting matchup between two of the best teams in the league. It’s essentially a showdown between Peyton Manning-led Broncos offense and the Chiefs’ shutdown defense. It’s going to be a back-and-forth game, but Manning and Co. should have just enough gas to outscore the average Kansas City offense.
Winner: Broncos
Riding a five-game winning streak and gaining believers in bunches, the Panthers are suddenly a team worth taking serious. After a hard-fought win over the 49ers, Carolina has made it a race in the NFC South and appear primed to make a playoff push. The Patriots are coming off a bye, but haven’t played well enough as of late to overcome Luke Kuechly and Carolina’s stifling defense.
Winner: Panthers
Gil Alcaraz IV is the Content Planner for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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